Internship Blog - click on Title to read full Blog and see Photos

From Satellites to C-Nav

Author:
Arianna Johns
Host Vessel:
R/V Atlantis

The last cruise I was put into a situation I never thought I would have to face. I was running the High definition satellite dish that fed the live feed of the ROV JASON and associated shows back to shore as an outreach project headed by the URI Innerspace Center. It put all my trouble shooting skills to use, and proved to me that I could learn systems I had never even seen before and actually repair them.

Now I am back out in the Northern Pacific doing more multi-beaming and slowly trying to suss out a massive ongoing issue with our C-NAV gps system. I wish I could say at this moment I understood it, but I don't. I am learning as I go, using the one tool that has rarely let me down, my uncanny ability to find underlying issues in complex systems.

On another note I can honestly say that being on a boat for three straight months, seeing science parties and crew members come and go, you begin to become much more a part of the ship crew familial group than one of the transient scientists. You develop friendships that are working relationships in such a close way that often times a glance or a small gesture can speak volumes during the chaotic times that can occur when massive problems are breaking loose.

Sounds the experience of a lifetime- not to mention an amazing opportunity to put all of your skills to work at one time! Great update!
Erica

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Numbers DRL/ITEST 1312333 and DUE/ATE 1104310. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.